Environmental: Ecosystems Environmental: Wildfires Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Major fires an increasing risk as the air gets thirstier, research shows      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Greater atmospheric demand for water means a dramatic increase in the risk of major fires in global forests unless we take urgent and effective climate action, new research finds. Researchers have examined global climate and fire records in all of the world's forests over the last 20 years.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Strongest Arctic cyclone on record led to surprising loss of sea ice      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The strongest Arctic cyclone ever observed struck in January 2022. A new analysis shows that while forecasts accurately predicted the massive storm, models seriously underestimated its effect on sea ice. Results suggest where forecast models for a changing Arctic Ocean could improve.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues Paleontology: Climate
Published

1930s Dust Bowl led to extreme heat around Northern Hemisphere      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The 1930s Dust Bowl affected heat extremes across much of North America and as far away as Europe and East Asia, according to new research. The study found that the extreme heating of the Great Plains triggered motions of air around the Northern Hemisphere in ways that suppressed cloud formation in some regions and contributed to record heat thousands of miles away.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Mangroves: Environmental guardians of our coastline      (via sciencedaily.com) 

They are the salt-tolerant shrubs that thrive in the toughest of conditions, but according to new UniSA research, mangroves are also avid coastal protectors, capable of surviving in heavy metal contaminated environments.

Biology: Microbiology Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Forests benefit from tree species variety and genetic diversity      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Reforestation projects should include a variety of tree species and ensure genetic diversity within each species to maximize new forests' health and productivity.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Energy: Nuclear
Published

Quantum algorithm of the direct calculation of energy derivatives developed for molecular geometry optimization      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have successfully extended the quantum phase difference estimation algorithm, a general quantum algorithm for the direct calculations of energy gaps, to enable the direct calculation of energy differences between two different molecular geometries. This allows for the computation, based on the finite difference method, of energy derivatives with respect to nuclear coordinates in a single calculation.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Plastic additives contaminate the sea and selectively harm corals' reproduction processes, research finds      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A new study examined the effect of plastic additives on the reproductive process and larvae development of corals and other organisms commonly found in the coral reef of Eilat.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

The entanglement advantage      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have demonstrated a way to entangle atoms to create a network of atomic clocks and accelerometers. The method has resulted in greater precision in measuring time and acceleration.

Environmental: Ecosystems Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Researchers discover root exudates have surprising and counterintuitive impact on soil carbon storage      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers examined root exudates and their impact on soil carbon storage revealing surprising and counterintuitive results.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Biodiversity in Africa and Latin America at risk from oil palm expansion, new report warns      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Zero deforestation commitments may inadvertently leave vital habitats in Latin America and Africa vulnerable to agricultural expansion, a new study has found.

Ecology: Trees Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Animals are key to restoring the world's forests      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

By dispersing seeds, animals can rapidly reestablish plant diversity in degraded forests.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Less intensively managed grasslands have higher plant diversity and better soil health      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have shown -- for the first time -- that less intensively managed British grazed grasslands have on average 50% more plant species and better soil health than intensively managed grassland. The new study could help farmers increase both biodiversity and soil health, including the amount of carbon in the soil of the British countryside.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Achieving a quantum fiber      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have successfully demonstrated the transport of two-photon quantum states of light through a phase-separated Anderson localization optical fiber.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Spin correlation between paired electrons demonstrated      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists have experimentally demonstrated for the first time that there is a negative correlation between the two spins of an entangled pair of electrons from a superconductor. For their study, the researchers used spin filters made of nanomagnets and quantum dots.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Quantum algorithms save time in the calculation of electron dynamics      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Quantum computers promise significantly shorter computing times for complex problems. But there are still only a few quantum computers worldwide with a limited number of so-called qubits. However, quantum computer algorithms can already run on conventional servers that simulate a quantum computer. A team has succeeded in calculating the electron orbitals and their dynamic development using an example of a small molecule after a laser pulse excitation. In principle, the method is also suitable for investigating larger molecules that cannot be calculated using conventional methods.

Computer Science: Encryption Computer Science: Quantum Computers Mathematics: Puzzles
Published

Microlaser chip adds new dimensions to quantum communication      (via sciencedaily.com) 

With only two levels of superposition, the qubits used in today's quantum communication technologies have limited storage space and low tolerance for interference. Engineering's hyperdimensional microlaser generates 'qudits,' photons with four simultaneous levels of information. The increase in dimension makes for robust quantum communication technology better suited for real-world applications.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Corals saving corals      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Corals resistant to disease can rescue more vulnerable corals, UC Davis found. Raising corals with diverse genotypes builds resilience amid disease and climate changes in reefs.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Arctic carbon conveyor belt discovered      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Every year, the cross-shelf transport of carbon-rich particles from the Barents and Kara Seas could bind up to 3.6 million metric tons of CO2 in the Arctic deep sea for millennia. In this region alone, a previously unknown transport route uses the biological carbon pump and ocean currents to absorb atmospheric CO2 on the scale of Iceland's total annual emissions, as researchers report.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers
Published

Grid of quantum islands could reveal secrets for powerful technologies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have created grids of tiny clumps of atoms known as quantum dots and studied what happens when electrons dive into these archipelagos of atomic islands. Measuring the behavior of electrons in these relatively simple setups promises deep insights into how electrons behave in complex real-world materials and could help researchers engineer devices that make possible powerful quantum computers and other innovative technologies.

Environmental: Ecosystems
Published

Crown-of-thorns seastar from Red Sea is endemic species      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have identified coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars in the Red Sea as distinct species that occurs only in this location.